Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 26: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

308 ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. valet’s own movements during the hours which had passed since eleven by asking: “Did Mr. Creveling ever entertain ladies also on these occasions?” “During Mrs. Creveling’s absence?” There was a note of shocked incredulity in the servant’s tones as if he could scarcely believe that he had understood the ques- tion. ‘“ Indeed no, sir! They were strict- ly stag suppers.” “Who were the gentlemen Mr. Crevel- ing entertained here, then?” the inspector continued. ‘‘ What were their names?”’ “ Rollins can tell you that better than I | can, sir,” Hill temporized. “ He usually waited upon them; it was only occasionally that I took his place, and then the gentle- -men were sometimes strangers to me; busi- ness acquaintances of Mr. Creveling’s. “You don’t know the name of a single gentleman who ever had supper here with Mr. Creveling alone?” The inspector’s tone had sharpened again. “Of course, sir, a few of them. They were all personal friends of long standing, those I did know; Mr. O’Rourke has been here once or twice, and Mr. Waverly and ' Mr. Cutter. I can’t recall them all at the moment, sir.” McCarty, unable to contain himself longer, coughed with elaborate ostentation, and after a quick side glance at him the inspector nodded. “ Mac, show this man where the body was found. No, Mr. Alexander!” he add- ed the last as the banker started forward nervously. ‘‘ There are a few more ques- tions I wish to ask you. Wait here, please.” Mr. Alexander sank back with an air of hopeless vexation. ‘¢ Then I trust that you will be brief!” he snapped. ’“‘ I know nothing, as I told you in the beginning, which could help you in any way, and this ghastly affair has been an inexpressible shock to me. When my niece arrives I must meet her with the news of her tragic bereavement and assume control of the situation as the head of the family, and I cannot do so without an op- portunity to pull myself together, to—to bear up under my own natural grief.” The door closed upon the thin, testy tones, and the thought crossed McCarty’s mind that the banker’s emotion was some- what tardy in finding expression, but his grimly determined face gave no indication of the idea as he piloted his charge to the study. ‘‘ *Twas there the body was found,” Mc- Carty explained as he pointed to the dark stain upon the rug, and then added with seeming irrelevance. ‘‘ What did they do, Hill, at these stag parties you were telling the inspector about? Play cards?” Before McCarty’s good-natured but keen scrutiny the valet seemed to have lost a trifle of the assurance which he had main- tained in the presence of the inspector, and . now he blinked, staring as if fascinated at the sinister spot upon the floor. " “No, They just ate and drank and smoked.” ‘What did they talk about?”’ The man, Hill, raised sullen, resentful. eyes at the question. “It was not my place to listen to the conversation,” he responded tartly. “I served them when Rollins wasn’t here to do it, and minded my own business. That’ 3 all I ‘know. ” “You'll find you’re minding your own business best now, my man, if you'll speak up and come clean!’’ McCarty admonished sternly. ‘‘ You told thé inspector in there that Mr. Creveling said never a word to you about last night beyond giving you > your instructions; what were they?” The valet moistened his thin lips. “* He told me that he twas having a guest here for supper; that I was to be here at six when the caterer’s men arrived and ar- range everything, and then bring him a bag of clean linen at the club at eleven.” ** And when did he tell you: this?” Mc- Carty’s eyes had narrowed. “Yesterday morning.” “* 'Where?™* : Here. He came for some papers be- fore going down to his office, and gave me some other instructions about his clothes; he didn’t like the valet service at the club.” ‘“* And what club was this where he was staying?” McCarty asked. “The Marathon.” ‘“‘ Why didn’t he stay in his own home if THE On a SRT BOE